Voice sound transmitting apparatus and system including expansion port

• US 6,718,043 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martha Trout
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, Dionne
• Application Number:
  US09/619,233
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 381/313, 381/314, 381/315, 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/326, 381/328
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

A voice sound transmitting and receiving unit having an earpiece that is adapted for insertion into the external auditory canal of a user, the earpiece having an expansion module. The voice sound transmitting unit includes a sensor, which may be a bone conduction sensor or an air conduction sensor, or both. Prior to transmission, additional processing, modification, or formatting of sensor output maybe done by the expansion module. Alternatively, all local processing, modification, or formatting of sensor output may be done via the expansion module. The transmission of the voice sound signal may be through a wireless linkage.

Claims

1. A voice sound transmitting unit having the advantage of adaptability, the unit comprising:

an earpiece adapted to be inserted into the external auditory canal of the user and having at least one sensor being adapted to convert vibrations of voice sound information to electrical signals;

a speech processor disposed within the earpiece operatively connected with the at least one sensor, the speech processor being adapted to receive the electrical signals from the at least one sensor and produce a voice sound signal;

an expansion port disposed within the earpiece;

an expansion module insertable into the expansion port of the earpiece such that the expansion module is integral with the earpiece to provide for further processing of the voice sound signal prior to transmission; and

a transmitter disposed within the earpiece and operatively connected with the speech processor and adapted to receive the voice sound signal for transmission.

2. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an air conduction sensor adapted to convert air vibrations of the voice sound information in the external auditory canal.

3. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a bone conduction sensor being adapted to contact a portion of the external auditory canal adjacent the mastoid bone to convert bone vibrations of voice sound information.

4. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a bone conduction sensor and an air conduction sensor.

5. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion port is an edge connect port.

6. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion module includes a DSP chip.

7. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion module includes a memory chip.

8. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion module includes a SIM card.

9. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion module includes a power supply.

10. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion nodule includes a carrier board.

11. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the earpiece is smaller in size than the interior of the external auditory canal of a user whereby the earpiece does not block the external auditory canal, and wherein the at least one sensor is adapted for placement within the external auditory canal of a user.

12. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 further comprising a speaker and a receiver, the speaker being adapted to reside within the external auditory canal and is operatively connected to the receiver.

13. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion port is a socket.

14. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 13 wherein the socket is a pin socket.

15. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 13 wherein the socket is a chip socket.

16. The voice sound transmitting unit of claim 13 wherein the socket is a zero insertion socket.